Frontrunner Backen loses leader
UNALAKLEET Charlie Boulding took the lead Sunday in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race by spending just four minutes in the checkpoint here before getting back on the trail.

NOW SHOWING: Secret Window
There is a vast difference between movies that should be made because the stories they have to tell demand visual treatment, and movies that will be made because somebody can capitalize on the latest big thing.

Judge not lest you be judged; community not to blame for death
To the family that lost their cousin Hugo Osterhaus (Buffa): It is a tragic loss not only to them, but to the community as well. My family lives within the community that they speak of. I feel it necessary to defend the community from such an outrageous statement.

'Classic' money should be returned to river, not spent on Board of Fish
Whether Kenai River Sportfishing Associ-ation's use of its revenues are legal (Clarion, March 7) is a matter for the state's appropriate agencies and courts to decide. Whether KRSA's use of its revenues to influence fishing regulations is ethical is another matter, requiring the court of public opinion.

Seward school moving forward
The new Seward Middle School project will be set to go if the assembly, as expected, passes Resolution 2004-026 on Tuesday, thus awarding the Phase 1 site work job to the Soldotna-based firm North Star Paving Inc.

State attempts to join lawsuit
Calling the move a necessary long shot, Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes has filed a motion with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday seeking to make the state of Alaska a defendant in a lawsuit over salmon stocking in Lake Tustumena.

Ninilchik man arrested after chase
A 38-year-old Ninilchik man was arrested by Alaska State Troopers on Thursday afternoon after he allegedly chased a woman in another vehicle up the Sterling Highway at speeds in excess of 85 mph before being stopped north of the Clam Shell Lodge in Clam Gulch.

School board to examine cuts
The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education will continue its discussion of the 2004-05 budget today during work sessions and an evening meeting.

Soldotna residents urged to write reps
Writing to elected officials is what people can do to maintain the greatness of the United States, a Kenai area representative for National Write Your Congressman Inc. told the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce last week.

Beach break
Mark Bressler of McAllister, Mont., returns from a walk on the beach in Kenai on Saturday afternoon. He said he was taking a break from shopping for a home here.

Beatrice Lou Stanford
Lifelong Alaskan and Kenai resident Beatrice Lou Stanford died Wednesday, March 10, 2004, at the Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 73.

Christina Grimm
Longtime Kenai resident Christina Grimm died Sunday, March 14, 2004, at her home in Soldotna. She was 36.

Lola T. Turner
Longtime Kenai resident Lola T. Turner died Wednesday, March 10, 2004, at the Heritage Place in Soldotna. She was 68.

Moving forward on fiscal plan
For the past several years, the need for a long-term fiscal plan for Alaska has been recognized by various economists, legislators, the press and prominent citizens. However, such a plan still does not exist, but it is even more critical in 2004 to help Alaska's leaders and citizens mutually understand what is meant by "essential government operations and services" and what may be required by the Legislature and the current administration to provide them in a responsible manner.

Proposition No. 1 will offer district flexibility in future
It's said that in life timing is everything. There is truth in that statement. After six months of effort in developing and delivering to the voters a viable alternative to the impending Kenai Peninsula Borough School District cuts of cocurricular activities, the Legislature appears to have found its way clear to solve the problem for us.

Making Bush's tax cuts permanent would help boost nation's economy What others say
As an economic adviser to Arnold Schwar-zenegger, investment guru Warren Buffett almost derailed the movie star's California gubernatorial campaign by calling for property tax increases. Schwarzenegger, who understood that the problem with the economy was too much taxing-and-spending, quickly distanced himself from the Buffett proposal and went on to be elected governor.

Johnson, Franklin schedule nuptials
Raenell Johnson and Matthew Franklin plan to be married Saturday, May 22, 2004, in an afternoon outdoor ceremony at the Double Tree Resort in Phoenix.

Around the Peninsula
Social Security reps to visit area
CPHC Inc. to meet
State Parks to hold board meeting
Sterling seniors to serve dinner
Community dance planned
Refuge sponsors bird sightings hot line

Rickabaugh, DeVolder announce engagement
Stephanie Ricka-baugh and Andrew De-Volder of Kasilof plan to be married Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, in an afternoon ceremony on the bluff in Kenai with a reception to follow at the Kenai Senior Citizens Center.

Phillips, Swank plan April wedding
Chelsey Renee' Phillips and Benjamin Lee Swank of Kenai have announced their plans to marry at in an afternoon ceremony Saturday, April 24, 2004, at the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church in Sterling with a reception following at the Soldotna Senior Citizens Center.

Community News
Solstice T-shirt design contest begins
Wrestlers team up with food bank for CANstruction
Swim club seeks coach
Blood bank to hold drives in Kenai
Conference on volunteerism planned

Aeronautics engineer's projects take flight
As folks gathered at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers' first powered flight, a wall of honor was unveiled, displaying the names of the nation's air and space pioneers.

Hoyts celebrate anniversary
Jim and Karen Hoyt were married March 3, 1979, in Phoenix. They met as the result of a car accident in Arizona and got to know each other with braces on their necks.

Hospice groups, services help in times of loss
Coping with the loss of a friend or loved one is a powerful and ever-changing experience. Grief is a normal response to loss, but people grieve in different ways. Reactions to grief can look and feel different than you might expect.

Maine librarian cashes in on her good luck
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) America's rarest silver dollar and possibly its most famous stolen coin was discovered in a box filled with miscellaneous coins by a Maine librarian who wasn't even a collector.

What to expect when the heat is on
Something strange is going on with your dog. She seems restless, is urinating much more than usual and all the male dogs in the neighborhood have suddenly taken a keen interest in her. This can mean only on thing your dog's in heat.

My best friend
Kyle Heffner enjoys spending time with his dogs, Whiskey and Sunny.

Celtics back in playoff spot
WASHINGTON Paul Pierce scored 26 of his 37 points in the second half, and the Boston Celtics moved back into playoff position with a 111-102 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

Seward claims crown
The Seward High School girls basketball team clinched the District 3/3A title Saturday, defeating Nikiski 38-38 in the district tournament title game hosted by Grace Christian at Dimond High School in Anchorage.

Tennessee again claims top women's seed
Tennessee earned the top overall seed in the NCAA women's basketball tournament Sunday, but two straight national championships weren't enough to get a No. 1 for Connecticut.

Tugnutt tightens down on Chicago
CHICAGO Ron Tugnutt, making just his seventh appearance, stopped 26 shots for his first shutout this season and 26th of his career to lead the Dallas Stars to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

Indiana wants no more of LeBron
CLEVELAND LeBron James scored 26 points and forced Ron Artest to take a tough 3-pointer as the final horn sounded, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to their sixth straight win, 107-104 Sunday over the Indiana Pacers.

Wasilla boys topple Kenai, claim state berth
The Kenai Central High School boys basketball team advanced to the third-place game at the Region III/4A tournament Saturday only to have its season end with a 59-45 loss to the host Warriors.

Wisconsin extends UAA to third game
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin was looking for a response. Senior scoring leader Rene Bourque provided it, and the Badgers stayed alive in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs.

Comeback pushes Nikiski girls to state
The Nikiski girls basketball team overcame a 17-10 deficit at halftime Friday in the semifinals of the District 3/3A tournament at Dimond High School to earn a 37-29 victory over tournament host Grace Christian.

Barnes, Geller top All-Region squads
Kenai's Nick Barnes and Skyview's Ryan Geller were named to the boys first-team All-Region III/4A team Saturday at the Region III/4A tournament in Wasilla.

Kodiak boys bar Kenai from state in semis
The Kodiak boys team punched their ticket to the state tournament at Sullivan Arena with a 57-54 victory over Kenai Friday in the semifinals of the Region III/4A basketball tournament at Wasilla High School.

Maier caps comeback with overall skiing title
SESTRIERE, Italy He learned how to walk again. Then he learned how to ski. He endured almost unbearable pain when he crammed his swollen, distorted leg into a ski boot. Nothing was going to stop Hermann Maier from returning to World Cup racing.

Ice Hawks move on to nationals
The Kenai Peninsula Hockey Association Midget B team won the Midget B state tournament March 7 at the Soldotna Sports Center.

Flyers keep winning against Devils
PHILADELPHIA Marcus Ragnarsson scored the go-ahead goal 23 seconds into the third period and Robert Esche made 37 saves to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Seawolves shock Wisconsin; move on to Final Five
MADISON, Wis. (AP) Chris Fournier and Curtis Glencross scored two goals apiece, leading eighth-seeded Alaska-Anchorage to the program's first appearance in the WCHA Final Five with a 4-1 victory over Wisconsin in Game 3 of a first-round series on Sunday.